LOLSaints

(Image from Catholic Audio).

Ignatius of Antioch was (if we count St. Peter) the third Bishop of Antioch and contemporary and friend of St. Polycarp.  He was martyred by being fed to the lions.  He writes a letter which contains the following:

"I am God's wheat, ground fine by the lion's teeth to be made purest bread for Christ.

No early pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. The time for my birth is close at hand. Forgive me, my brothers. Do not stand in the way of my birth to real life; do not wish me stillborn. My desire is to belong to God. Do not, then, hand me back to the world. do not try to tempt me with material things. Let me attain pure light. Only on my arrival there can I be fully a human being. Give me the privilege of imitating the passion of my God."

When St. Polycarp met his friend Ignatius on the road to his martyrdom in Rome, he kissed the chains that bound his friend.

St. Ignatius' feast day is October 17.